Magistrates Tim Coomer, Ronnie Stinson and committee chair Jeff Botts listens as County Judge-Executive Jamie Bewley Byrd talks about the U.S. Bank building and the EM building located on College Street at the intersection of S. Franklin Street. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1.
By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
Magistrate Jeff Botts has suggested that students from the Barren County Area Technology Center work alongside the county to restore and renovate their new building at the intersection of South Franklin Street and East College Street. He did so during the Barren County Fiscal Court Building and Property Committee meeting Monday, Oct. 23.
The building, which occupies 308, 310 and 312 S. Franklin St., was one of the central topics of discussion since its purchase at the March fiscal court meeting. The property will mainly be used for storage, sheriff training, the coroner and his deputy offices, and emergency management, according to Barren County Judge-Executive Jamie Bewley Byrd.
According to committee members, the building is in need of renovations before people can start moving in and items can be stored in the facility. Botts, who is chairman of the committee, showed the most recent potential floor plans for the space, which was greeted with approval from the two other magistrates — Tim Coomer and Ronnie Stinson — Emergency Management Director Garland Gilliam and Byrd.
During the meeting, Botts said he, and some other community and business leaders, were preparing for a “big event” at the Barren County Area Technology Center, also called the trade school, on Nov. 3 that gave him a unique idea.
“In the process of all that, and in the meetings we’ve had on this big event, I got to talking (at) the trade school…,” Botts said. “I got to thinking they’ve got carpenters that need projects and stuff so just asked… if all the crews would be interested in this project if our committee is interested.”
He said the initial reaction from the students and teachers was positive, and Byrd said it would be a good thing for them to do as a “senior project” that provides lots of hand-on experiences and can help them later by helping them get a job after school.
“I love the deal with the students,” Byrd said. “I think this will be a great opportunity because they can show this off after.”
While not “100 percent certain” on the partnership, it is not a new idea for Barren County as trade school students have helped the county with numerous things in the past, like constructing coffins or welding a trailer. Botts said it would save the county thousands as all they would be out would be the material, and possibly permit, costs.
“If y’all want to do the bid process and deal with that, I don’t care,” Botts said. “I just think we can get this done quicker, the kids can get an educational experience. This is not a rocket science deal where we have to worry about something falling down.”
In the end, there were still plenty of things to be discussed and finalized, such as who would oversee everyone during the project, who would get the permits or the validity of an agreement, but Botts said by going this route they could get the project started a lot sooner than if they went through the usual process.
Glasgow News 1 attempted to make contact with Jonathan Myatt, principal of the BCATC, for confirmation of such an agreement but have gotten no response from him at the time of publication.
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